Can someone explain the concept of faith alone?

Question

I am Catholic, and we believe that one needs to have both faith and works, but protestants are all in our grill about it, but anyway is the concept of faith alone

1.) Anyone who has faith that Jesus Christ is their Lord and Savior will get into heaven
2.) We must also follow Jesus' example to get into heaven
3.) Other

I understand the concept of faith, I do not understand the concept of faith alone getting us into heaven

Answer 1

Faith is believing in something for which you have no palpable proof. It is necessary to first have faith if you are to follow Jesus' example, otherwise, we would soon get tired of people jacking us around, and we would find it hard to love our neighbors after awhile if we did not have faith. I think both are necessary for salvation--our works are proof of our faith.

Answer 2

I really wonder if Protestant and Catholic is really so different as some would have us believe on this issue of faith and works. As a Protestant we believe that it is faith in Christ alone that grants one a place in Heaven. However, we also believe that faith without works is dead. So, works do matter because it shows if your salvation is real or not.With that in mind however, we must understand that no one can be perfect like Jesus, so even our good works are as filthy rags in the sight of God. Very confusing, if you let it. I say Keep your eyes on Jesus and pray for His grace and mercy. God Bless.

Answer 3

Unfortunately the catholic church teaches that grace is received through works-it is assumed that if you are a catholic that you already have "faith".
What the the "Protestants" as you call them, believe is like Romans 10:9-10. If you agree with God that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead. you will be saved. Without that-you can work your rosary off and still burn in hell. It doesn't say a word about works. Works can not save you.
Now, if a person is saved-they will do good works. But good works are not a sign that you are saved. Many people do good works that are not saved-don't get the two mixed up-it would be hazzardous.

Answer 4

First of all, I'm protestant, and I believe in both faith & works together...so You're giving false information.

Secondly, biblical support of this concept can be found...

Hebrews 11:1 gives the definition of faith.
James 2:26 supports the concept of Faith and works go hand in hand....

I hope this helps
God Bless.

Answer 5

This is a good question, let me try to answer your question as easily as i can. If you truly believe that jesus christ is your lord and savoir than you will believe in what he tells us through his scriptures. He tells us that we are to have faith. Faith in him that he is risen. If we have faith in him why would we do anything other than what he tells us. The scriptures say that we are to have works as well as our faith. If there is no fruit brought from our faith than how faithful are we? I believe that with true faith, works will come. If someone says they have faith but does everything against what the lord has told them, you have to ask yourself what kind of faith is that.

Answer 6

Let's not speak in such divisive ways. It really doesn't help anything. The bible very clearly teaches, in Ephesians "for it is by grace you are saved, through faith, not by works that any man should boast". No one can be saved by what they do. However, the bible also teaches that faith without works is dead. That means, a person who professes faith in Christ will have good works as a result of their love for Jesus.

I'm sorry your church teaches you that you need to add to Christ's work on the cross to be saved. Please remember, Jesus said "it is finished".

Answer 7

We are saved by grace, not by works, so that no one can boast.
We are saved by grace alone. Recall that in Acts 16:31 the jailer asked Paul and Silas how to be saved. They responded, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved." The jailer believed and immediately became saved.
Close to 200 times in the New Testament salvation is said to be by faith alone - with no works in sight. Consider the following:
John 3:15 tells us that "everyone who believes in him may have eternal life."
John 5:24 says, "I tell you the truth, whoever hears my words and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life."
In John 11:25 Jesus says, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies."
John 23:46 says, "I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness."
John 20:31 says, "But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name."
If salvation were not by faith alone, then Jesus' message in the Gospel of John - manifest in the above quotations - would be deceptive, stating that there is one condition for salvation when there are allegedly two - faith and works.
I must emphasize that we are saved by faith for works. Works are not the condition of our salvation, but a consequence of it We are saved not by works, but by the kind of faith that produces works.

Eph 2:8-10 God saved you by his special favor when you believed. And you can't take credit for this: It is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus so that we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

Answer 8

Faith alone Period.
We don't do good works to get to heaven, we do them because we are going to heaven, by the grace of Jesus Christ's sacrifice on the cross for us.

Answer 9

Hebrews 11:1 Faith is the assured expectation of things hoped for, the evident demonstration of realities though not beheld.

You're asking for all Concepts of Faith?


In that case you’re absolutely right. We must prove our Faith by our life course. “Faith, if it does not have works, is dead in itself.”—JAMES 2:17.

Answer 10

1) Not only faith but living a life full of Purity & positive thoughts
will only drive him to Heaven.

2) You must follow the path guided by Jesus (the God to whom you believe) means Pure thoughts without selfishness will drive you to Heaven.

3) Your rigid believe in HIS EXISTENCE will lead you to Heaven.